EPARTMENT, _22nd December 1854._

... The Duke of Newcastle assures your Majesty that the condition
of the Hospital at Scutari, and the entire want of all method and
arrangement in everything which concerns the comfort of the Army, are
subjects of constant and most painful anxiety to him, and he wishes
most earnestly that he could see his way clearly to an early and
complete remedy.[73]

Nothing can be more just than are all your Majesty's comments upon the
state of facts exhibited by these letters, and the Duke of Newcastle
has repeatedly, during the last two months, written in the strongest
terms respecting them--but hitherto without avail, and with little
other result than a denial of charges, the truth of which must now be
considered to be substantiated.

Your Majesty is aware that the Duke of Newcastle sent out a Commission
to enquire into the whole state of the Medical Department nearly three
months ago, and he expects a report very soon.

In the meantime, the Duke of Newcastle will again write in the sense
of your Majesty's letter to him.

[Footnote 73: Early in November, a band of capable and
devoted nurses, under the superintendence of Miss Florence
Nightingale, had arrived at Scutari, the experiment having
been devised and projected by Mr Sidney Herbert, who was a
personal friend of Miss Nightingale. The party was accompanied
by Mr and Mrs Bracebridge, whose letters describing the
condition of the hospitals had been sent by the Queen to the
Duke of Newcastle.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _30th December 1854._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Once more, in this old and very _eventful_ year,
allow me to address you, and to ask you for the continuation of that
love and affection which you have ever borne me! May God bless you
and yours in this New Year--and though the old one departs in war and
blood, may we hope to see this year restore peace to this troubled
world, and may _we_ meet again also!

With the affectionate wishes of all the children, believe me always,
your most devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER XXIV

At the end of the year 1854, negotiations had been on foot with a
view to terminating the war, on terms which were known as the "Four
Points," the third of which was designed to extinguish Russian
preponderance in the Black Sea; and a conference of the Powers
ultimately assembled at Vienna fo